Merckx 525 celebrates the unmatchable career of Eddy Merckx, the greatest cyclist ever and the most dominant athlete of the 20th century. Known as “the Cannibal” for his insatiable hunger to win, Merckx gobbled up 525 race victories, an unrivaled legacy lionized in this once-in-a-lifetime homage.

Merckx 525 is the first book authorized by Eddy Merckx and the only book he says offers a truly complete record of his bike-racing career.

"Merckx 525 is a unique collection of exclusive photographs, including some that even I had not seen before. It is the only work authorized by me…and the first truly complete record of my accomplishments." — Eddy Merckx

Presenting a dazzling trove of recently discovered photographs not yet seen outside of Europe, Merckx 525 is an all-encompassing embrace of Merckx’s career from promising youth in Belgium, to fabulous darling of Europe, to mud-splotched, hardened veteran of the bike-racing wars. Revealing photographs from private collections, the Merckx family, and European newspaper archives, Merckx 525 sheds new light on the greatest cyclist of all time.

Frederik Backelandt is the Editor in Chief of Grinta! magazine in Ghent, Belgium. As a freelance journalist, he has contributed to the cycling magazines Procycling (UK), Fiets (Belgium), and Sportmagazine (Belgium).

Praise For Merckx 525…

“Merckx 525 is a unique collection of exclusive photographs, including some that even I had not seen before. It is the only work authorized by me…and the first truly complete record of my accomplishments.” — Eddy Merckx

“As a memento to a career we won’t see again, Merckx 525 is worth every stinkin’ penny… The real joy of this book was a chance to feast on images from the early part of Merckx’ career…Arranged chronologically, one can imagine the book as the ultimate family photo album of the star-shined favorite son.” — Red Kite Prayer

“Sumptuous, luxurious, and magnificent…A triumph. Each of its 221 pages simply scream out loud to satisfy the senses…Modern cycle sport is particularly well-served by some excellent photographers, but the imagery contained within Merckx 525 is exemplary.” — The Washing Machine Post